Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has recently been released from prison in France, but is now under judicial supervision with strict conditions. These conditions include a €5 million bond that Durov is required to deposit. Additionally, he is not allowed to leave French territory and must report to the police station twice a week as part of his bond requirements.
The Paris Judicial Court has officially charged Durov with six offenses, including “complicity in the management of an online platform allowing illegal transactions in an organized gang,” money laundering, and refusal to provide information to authorities. The charges stem from Durov’s alleged failure to respond to judicial requests from France’s anti-organized crime authority, JUNALCO, the National Office for Minors (OFMFIN), and other investigative services related to drug trafficking, child sexual content, and fraud investigations.
The French Center for the Fight Against Digital Crime (C3N) and the National Anti-Fraud Customs Office (ONAF) will handle subsequent investigations into Telegram’s alleged failure to register its encrypted messaging services with the French government. Despite Durov’s reputation for defending free speech and resisting content moderation on Telegram, the platform has been criticized by child safety groups for allegedly facilitating the spread of illegal content.
The arrest of Pavel Durov has sparked widespread controversy and reactions from various groups. Free speech advocates and tech industry figures have criticized the arrest as a violation of human rights, questioning whether other social media platform leaders would face similar charges for misuse by users. Some have suggested that French authorities may be attempting to control or access communications on Telegram.
French President Emmanuel Macron has clarified that Durov’s arrest is part of a judicial process with no political motivations behind it. While the investigation into Telegram’s alleged criminal liability continues, the case has raised concerns about the balance between free speech, platform responsibility, and law enforcement in the digital age.
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